Cooling apparatus



Dec. 18, 1951 R. o. scoFIELD COOLING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Shet 1 Filed Jan. l5, 1945 lNvENToR TYberZ O. .Scofield /l/s ATTORNEYS Dec. 18, 1951 R. o. scoFlELD COOLING APPARATUS s sh'eetsheet 2 Filed Jan. 15 1945 lvENToR Faber? 0. `Scofield Dec. 18, 195,1 R. o. scoFxELD COOLING APPARATUS Filedy Jan. 15, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 15 INVENTOR Q l Rober? a Scofield ATTORNEYS /lis Patented Dec. 18,: 1951 2,579,098' COOLING APPARATUS Robert O. Scoeld, Warren, `Ohio, assigner tov General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Michi; a'

corporation of'Delaware fl Application January 15, 1945,'ser1a1N. 572,885'

This invention relates to the continuous vulv'ca'nization of a rubber coating formed upon a wire for electrical use.A The Wire passes'continu- 6 Claims. (01.18-6) 'ously through aneXtruder which causes rubber A "compound to be v:formed around the wire and ized rubber coating.

-to withstand subsequent handling.

In the drawings:

the door removed.

Abut with the door in place.

von line Zar-2a of Fig. 1.

and a pipe on an enlarged scale in the dot-andz f lash circle C in Fig.v 1f, showing openings in' the pipe., y

- Fig. 3 is a Vsectional view on line 3*--3 ofFigz-fl withthe door injpiace Fig. v4 a fragmentary View looking in 'the 5 through a vulcanizing chamber containing steam direction of arrow4 of Fig. 3.

- under pressure, through ,a device which causes Fig. '5 isa fragmentary sectional view on line the vulcanized'rubber coating to be cooled by the 5-5' of Fig.' 4 andV is'drawn to a larger scale. vapplication of Water and through a device which Fig. 6 is a fragmentary. sectional view on line dries( the coating preparatory to windingthe ywire 6 6 of Fig'. 3 and is drawnA on a larger scale.

upon a reel. VOn leaving the vulcanizing cham- Fig. 7 is' a view showing the side of theapber, the wirepasses through a seal which miniparatus opposite to` that shown in Fig. 1. I mizes the escape of steam from the vulcanizing Fig. 8 is an end viewpartly in section, the secchamber. Av form of seal, which has been used, is tion being on the line 8--8l of Fig. 7. disclosed in the reissue patent to Cherry and Fig. 9 is'a'fragmentary sectional view taken Lamplough, No. 19,820, Western Electric patents on line 949 of Fig. 7. on rubber coating or continuous vulcanization, Fig. 10 is a plan y'view of certain pipe connecwhich discloses the location of the seal within a tionslooking inthe direction of arrow'll) of 'Fig'. 7. casing which c'oniines such steam and vapor as Fig. 11"is 'a fragment of 'the right v'end of the may escapei through the seal and `which is prohousingas viewed in'Fig. 1 with the doorin pla'e. vided With an exhaust stackvto carry away Ithe Fig. 12 yisa'fragment'ary view looking inthe steam and a drain pipe for carrying away'any direction of arrow 'I2'of Fig'. 1`1. condensation. From the casing, the wire passes Fig. 13 is avv fragmentary sectional view taken to themeans for cooling and dryingY the vulcanon line I3-I3 of 'Fig'. 11. f

' 25 Fig.14 is a fragmentary view on the left end It is an object of the present invention to of the `housing as viewed lin Fig. 1 with the door provide means for beginning to cool the wireas inplace.' 1 soon as it leaves the seal at the exit'end of the Fig. 15 a view looking inthe direction of fvulcanizing chamber while preventing the sag- VvarroW'IS of Fig'. 14. f '1 ging of the wire While the coating is still tender."""' rFig. 16 is aV fragmentary sectional view taken This object is accomplishedV bythe use of a casing on` line |6'l6 of Fig.11'5'.' -rf Which houses the Seal and a'horizontal trough Figi 17 iS a 10I1gt11df11 SSCOIlal View 0f th extending from the seal a substantial distance seal shown in side elevation in Fig. 1. and containing water for cooling of the wire im- Fig'. 18 is aA sectional'view on line |8-I8 of mediately as it emerges from the seal, a wire re-' Fig. 17. turn pulley against which water is continuously Fig. 19 is a fragmentary sectional view on line sprayed and a second trough containing water 19e-'I9 of Fig. 1'7. through which the wire passes before leaving the Fig; 20 is a sectionaly view of the seal shown in housing whereby the coating has been cooled suf- Fig.V 17 and is drawn to a larger scale. ciently to make it mechanically strong enough?" Fig. 21, drawn "to the Same Sale aS Fig. 20, iS 40 a view ofthe seal in the direction of arrow 2i of Further objects and advantages of the present Fig. 20. l invention -Will be apparent from the following lFig. 22'isya fragmentary sectional view similar description, reference being had to the accomto Fig. 1'7 but taken online 22-22-of Fig. 18. l panying drawings, -Wherein a preferred form of Referring to Figs. 1*'andf7, a housing 30 is supembodiment of the `present invention is clearly ported from-the floor bytpedestals v3| and 32- and shown. .it provides a water-tank 33 and a chamber 34 for conining the water used in cooling the wire Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the'housing with coating and the steam'escaping fromthe seal. The-housing v33 is provided with a stack 35 which Fig. 2 is asectional view online 2 2 of Fig. 1 50 may 'beV connected with means for :exhausting vapor from-the housing. ,l Y Fig. 2a is a sectional View, on an enlarged scale, As Vshown l Fig. 1, there extends into. the

chamber 34 of the housing 30 acylindrlcal partV Fig. 2b is a view showing fragments of a pulley 40 which is theenelosure vof a steam jacket surrounding a pipe 4l containing steam under preswel@ `admitted at 66.

which .carry the pin 6|.

I tion of the arm 62 about the pivot pin 6|.

sure which provides a vulcanizing chamber for the wire coating. As shown in Fig. 17, the pipe 4| is threaded into a tubular member 42, the left end of which is provided with oppositely disposed pairs of ears 43 for Supporting pins 44 passing through eyes on the ends of screws 45 which are received by notches between b-ars or lugs 46 .extending Vdiaxnetrica'lly` .from -"a"-tubular member 41 which telescopically engages the member 42. The member 41 is secured to the member 42 in the position shown in Fig. 1'1 by the tightening of nuts 48 each provided .with a. cross pin 49 to facilitate the tightening and release of the nuts. Between the Vleft end .of the member 42 and a shoulder 50 of the lmember 41 there is located a seal which comprises discs |f and 52 of material such as rubber Yand .al-resilient metal disc 53 which is radially slit yat 53a to provide resilient tongues 54 (Figs. 20 and 21').

yAligned holes 55 extend through the three discs ter the purpose of receivingV 4a pin 5.6 Fig. 17,

which maintains the discs in registry. Fig.v `20 'shows 4a coated wire .W extending through'tlie three discs and in engagement with vresilient discs 5| and 52.y The;member 411 supports a tubular Wire guide 51 which serves 'to transmit pressure to the seal from an arm 60 of a. bellcrank lever-pivoted at|6| and having an arm 62 connected with a rod 63. attached to a piston S4 within a cylinder B5 into which fluid pressure is A bracket 61 carries a pin 88 which` supports the cylinder v65 and has arms 59 The bracket 61 is shaped, as shown in Fig. 17, to fit .around the member 42 vand to Acooperate with a similarly shaped cap attached to the bracket by screws 1|, see Fig. 19. The bracket arm 69' supports a pin`12 passing through an eye 13' of a screw 14 -upon whichare threaded pairs of nuts and 510 which limit'the movement of the arm ,62 rel` 'ative to the. bracket B1 and, therefore, -move ment of the arm 60 relative'to the seal. The

arm 812 has integral ears 80 which support a pin 8| on which the arm 60 pivoted'for movement in a plane at right anglesv to the plane of rota- The arm 60 is retained in position, shown inxFi'g. l1,

' by pin 82 urged by .a spring 83 `into a hole 84 in the arm 60. In order to spread the wire through Ythe seal, it is necessary to remove the member 41. To make this possiblethe. pin 82 is, withdrawn from the hole 84 so that the arm 60 may be moved laterally.

The lower end of the arm 60 is'notched at 60a so that it may straddle the wire W while it presses upon the member 51 in order to effect the proper engagement with the proper size of the wire such as to minimize the escape of'steam without marring the relatively soft coating of the wire. As the wireemoves through the member 51, it' is caused' to rest on the bottom of a trough 90, supported by brackets 9|, Fig. 1, connected by pins 92 with levers 93 pivotally supported by rods 94 upon brackets v95 supported within the housing. The lower ends of the levers diately after it leaves the seal; and the cooling continues toa substantial amount while the wire passes towardt'he left through the trough 90.

As .the wire "leaves the trough 90, it passes around a grooved pulley H0, the hub of v which (Fig. 6)*'supports ball bearings ||2 en- 93 are connected by pins 98 with a bar 91 con-V Vnected with a piston rod 98 attached to a piston, not shown. and cooperating with a pressure fluid cylinder 99 pivoted at |00 on a bracket IDI.

-When the rod 98 occupies the position relative shown yso that the; wire supported thereby will be located horizontallyl and in alignment with the seal. When pressure fluid is admitted to c'losed by shaft seal II3. The bearings journal the pulley ||0 upon aV fixed shaft H4A which passes eccentrically through a bushing I5 journalled in a tubular support |6 supported. by the housing. The bushing ||5 .is connected -with a lever arm H1 Afor the purpose of turning the bushing 5 so that the shaft 4 .and the axis of the pulley ||0 Ymay be raised or lowered for the purpose of locating thatportion of the wire extending from the trough to the pulleyl ||0 in a horizontal position which `is in alignment with the wire passing along :the trough. Inv or der to adapt the apparatus for use for various sizes of wire necessary to vary the elevation of the pulley axis, this is accomplished by turning' the arm ||1 and the arm is retained in one of several positions by a pin I8, Fig. 5, having' a pull knob I9 and being axially supported by the arm ||1 and by a bushing |20 threaded into a tube |2| welded to the arm ||1 :and housing a spring |22 confined between the bushing |20 and a shoulder |23 Vof the pin ||8'.. As shown in Fig. 4, the housing provides an arcuate bar |24 having a plurality of holes |25, each for receiving the pin H8. These holes |25 may be variously numbered in order. to show what adjustment of the pulley is Vnecessary so that the yaparatus' may be adapted for a particular sizeof insulated wire. After leaving the pulley I0, the wire passes through a trough |30 and out through a notch |'3| in the right end wall of the housing 30, Fig. 1. After leaving the housing 30, the wire passes through a suitable drying apparatus and then to the wind-up reels.

Referring to Fig. 8, vthe bottom of the tank 33 is connected through an L |40, a valve |4| and a pipe |42 with the intake of a water circulated pump not shown. The outlet of this pump is connected with a pipe |43 (Fig. 7) connected with branch pipes |44, |45 and |46. `Pipes |44 and |45 are connected through valves |48 and |49 respectively with pipes |50 and I5| respectively which empty into the lower trough 90. Branch pipe |48 Vis connected with anozzle |52 which directs water over the wire passing through the trough |30. Pipe |46 is connected with an arcuate pipe |53 having holes |54 through which water is sprayed against the wire as it passes around the pulley ||0. It'is therefore apparent that from the time the wire leaves the seal at the left end of part 42 (Fig. y1'7) until the wire leaves the notch |3| at the right end of the trough |30, the wire vis subjected to the application of circulating water. Before the wire passes around the pulley, that portion of it` between the seal and the pulley, is maintained horizontal so that no sagging in the wire can Qur which will 'tend to crack the coated l wire when n is sun soft. Byrne time the w'ire has reached the pulley, its coating has cooled vsufficiently to allow it to be bent around the pulley without harming the coating. By the time the wire has left the trough |36, its coating has hardened sufficiently vto withstand subsequent handling. Y

`The tank 33 provides for the storage of the Acirculating water and to catch the water which gravitates from the troughs and from the spray nozzles withinthe chamber 34. As some of this water is lost by evaporation and mixture with the vapor which is exhausted from the stack 35, it is necessary to Vreplenish the supply in the tank 33. This is done automatically in response to movement of I a float |66 which moves with the water from"its minimum lower level indicated by the dot-and-dash line |6| to the maximum upper level indicated by the dotand-dash line |62 in Fig. 8. The Vfloat is guided by a tube |63 supported by the housing 36 yand it moves a rod |64 connected with an varm |65 extending'through a slot |6561. in the housing and adapted to engage the actuator |66 of a switch |61 mounted on the housing and enclosed by a cover |68 attached to the exterior of the housing as shown in Fig. 8. -The switch |61 controls a magnetic valve |69, the inlet of which is connected by a pipe |16 with a pipe |1| connected with the city water supply. The outlet of the valve |69 is connected by a pipe |12 with a pipe |13 which empties into thetank 33, see Fig. 10. When the level of water in the tank 33 is at the lower level |6|, the float,l due h -to gravity, has moved downwardly far enough to cause arm above the flared out portion thereon to operate the switch |61 to a closed position to connect the magnet (not shown) of the valve |69 in an electrical circuit. When the M magnet is energized it will automatically openifi |66. When this happens them the city water supply. However, if the temperature of the water within the tank rises to a value such that the `water does not effectively cool the Wire while passing through the housing, an additional supply of cold city water is admitted into the tank automatically by a temperature responsive valve |15 whose inlet is connected by pipe |16 with pipe 1| and whose outlet isconnected by pipe |11 with pipe |13. The actuation 0f the valve |15 is effected by the expansion ofy a suitable fluid contained within a bulb |19 located in the water of the tank 33,

and connected by pipe |19 with a 'flexible metal bellows |86. The tank 33 is initially lled with city water by opening a valve |8|, Fig. 10, which connects the city water supply line with the pipe |13. In order that the upper Water level indicated by line |62 will not be exceeded, the tank is provided with an overflow pipe |82 opening at the level |62 and passing down through the bottom of the tank to a drain. The tank 33 is provided with a bottom drain |63 with pipe |92 and controlled by valve |84. y

Referring to Figs. 11 through 16, the doork |490 includes a horizontal portion |9| coveringa part of the top of the housing and a vertical portion |92 covering the opening seen in Fig. 1. The cover is attached to the top wall of the housing vsure uid to the left end of the cylinder 99.

by hinges |93 and it may be lifted and rotated :upon its hinges by the handles |94. The right horizontal and vertical edges of the door are shaped to provide a semi-cylindrical bead |95, Fig. 13, which engages a similarly formed bead or flange |96 provided by the housing 36. As

-shown in Fig. 13, the door |96 fits closely against J the edge of the housing 36 and an angle iron 36a which reenforces it. Any water which 'escapes through the joint between the cover and the angle iron 39a is trapped by the cooperated -flanges |95 and |96 and gravitates into a gutter A266, the bottom wall of which is inclined from right toward left in Fig. 1 and the water collecting in the gutter returns to the tank through a slot 26|, Fig. 15, in the left end wall of the housing. In order that the joint between the cover |96'and the angle iron 36a of Fig. 13, will 'not be subjected to action of water spray moving gently from left to right within the housing chamber 34, the cover carries a baiile strip |99 in Fig. 13. The strip |99 extends vertically at both ends as shown in Fig. 16 and also horizontally as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 in order to limit the escape of water at the meeting edges of the cover |99 and a wall 262 of the housing as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The bale plate |99 as shown in Fig. 16, prevents the application of Water spray directly into 'the joint between the housing angle 36h and the cover |96. The left end of the cover |96 is provided with a flange |96?) which overlaps the left end of the housing 36 and any water which escapes through the joint between angle 36h and cover |96 is caused to gravitate down the inside of the flange |991) and into the control section 263, Fig. 15. It is apparent that the gutter, Figs. 2 and 3, will catch any water which seeps through the Vjoint between the parts |96 and 262.

"The following is a rsum of manipulations required when placing the apparatus in condition for operation. The cover |96 is lifted and turned back upon its hinges so that its normally horizontal portion |9| rests upon the top of the housing 36. By opening the valve |8|, the city water is admitted to the tank 33 until the level reaches the line |62. The trough 96 is located in the position of 96 in Fig. 1 by admitting pres- The pin 62, Fig. 17, is retracted and the arm 66 is Yrn'oved laterally out of alignment with the part 51. The nuts 48 are unscrewed to the extent vthat will permit them to clear the lugs 46 so that the screws l5 may be rotated on the pins 44 in order to free the part 41 from connection with the part 42. Then the seal discs can be removed from their support and threaded over the wire which is passed through the vulcanizing chamber and finally through the tubular member d2. This wire is a section of uncoatediwire unreeled from the supply reel or it may be a lead wire welded thereto. The lead wire is passed around the pulley I6 and along the trough |36 and through the notch |3| and then through the drying apparatus and then it is attached to the take-up reel. The vseal and the vmember 41 are reassembled with the tube 42 as shown in Fig. 17 and the arm 60 is located for engagement with the member 51 and the trough 96 is returned to the full line position shown in Fig. 1. The axis of the pulley ||6 is adjusted vertically by rotating the arm ||1 which is located by bringing its pin I6 into alignment with the hole |"25 which bears the mark corresponding tothe size of the wire to'be handled by the apparatus@ Fluid pressure is applied to the cylinder 55', Fig.v 17, in order to obtain the amount of pressure required between the seal and the insulation of the wire passing through it. The door |90 is closed and the operationof the water circulating pump is started so that water is 110W- ing into the troughs 90 and I3!! and against the groove of the pulley H0. The extruder head and the vulcanizing chamber are made ready for operation and the rotation of the take-up reel is begun.

While the embodiment of the present invention constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. Apparatus for cooling the insulating coating formed on a wire comprising a housing, a sealing member for engaging the coating of the wire when it leaves a vulcanizing chamber and enters the housing; a horizontal trough within the housing for maintaining-the coated wire horizontal as it moves from the sealing member;

va grooved wheel to direct the coated wire forl movement in a direction differing from the direction of movement from the sealing member; and means within the housing for effecting re1- ative vertical movement between the trough and the axis of the wheel in order to compensate for differences in the outside diameter of the coated Wire whereby the wire remains horizontal to its first contact point with the wheel.

2. Apparatus for cooling the insulating coating formed on a wire vcomprising a housing; a sealing member supported by the housing and -located for movement of the coated wire therethrough in a substantially horizontal direction; a horizontal trough within the housing for maintaining the coated wire horizontal as it moves .from the sealing member, said trough having provisions for directing coolant to the sealing member, a second trough substantiallyY parallel to the first trough for guiding the coated wire to an exit of the housing, and a grooved wheel for guiding the coated wire from the exit of j the rst trough to the entrance of the second trough; and coolant applying means for directing coolant into the troughs and into the wheel groove, whereby all portions of the coated wire from the sealing member to the housing exit are subjected to the coolant.

3. Apparatus for cooling the insulating coating formed on a wire comprising a housing, a sealing member adapted to engage the coating of the wire when it leaves a vulcanizing chaml ber and enters the housing; a guide means within the housing for maintaining the coated wire horizontal as it moves from the sealing member,

-a revolving member vfor reversing the direction of movement of the coated wire within the chamber to an exit provided by the housing and means within the housing for adjusting vertical movement between the revolving member and the guide means to compensate for the differences inthe outside diameter of the coated wire whereby the coated wire remains horizontal to its first contact point with the revolving means.

4. Apparatus for cooling the insulating coatingV formed on a conducting wire comprising, '-a. housing, a sealing member supported by the .housing and located for movement of the coated -wire therethrough in a substantial horizontal direction; a nrst guide means within the housfing for maintaining the coated wire horizontal as it movesv from the sealing member -intok the housing, said guide means having provisions for directing a liquid coolant to the sealing member, a second guide means spaced from the first guide means for guiding the coated Wire to an exit provided by the housing; a revolving member for guiding the coated wire from the iirst guide means to the second guide means; and means for applying liquid coolant to the guide means and the revolving means, whereby all portions of the coated wire from the sealing member to the exit are subjected to the'coolant.

5. Apparatus for cooling the insulating coating formed on a conducting wire comprising, a sealing member adapted to engage the coating of the Wire when it leaves a vulcanizing chamber and enters the housing; a rst guide means within the housing for guidingv the coatedl wire in a substantial straightline as it enters the housing; rotatable means for changing the direction of movement of the coated wire within `the housing, a second guide meansior guiding the coated wire in its reverse direction to an exit provided by the housing; means within the housing for the rotatable means, applying a liquid coolant to the guiding means, and to the coating of the wire Vincluding the portion thereof emerging through the sealing member; and means within the housing for eiecting relative movement between the guide means and the rotatable means so as to compensate forv the diierences in the outsideY diameter of the coated wire whereby the coated wire remains in a straight line from the sealing member to the first point of contact with the reversing means.

6. Apparatus for cooling the insulating coating formed on a conductor wire comprising, a vulcanizing chamber, a cooling chamber associated with the vulcanizing chamber, a sealing member at the outlet ofthe vulcanizing chamber and positioned within .theconnes of the cooling chamber; guide means for the coated wire located within the cooling chamber for maintaining the coated wire horizontal as it moves from the sealing member; a rotatable member within the cooling chamber to direct the coated wire for movement in a diierent direction from the direction of movement from the sealing member to an exit provided by the cooling chamber; an eccentric support for the rotatable member;

means associated with the support for vertically changing the axis of the rotatable member in order to compensate for different sizes of coated wire whereby the wire remains horizontal to its first contact point with the rotatable member.

ROBERT O. SCOFIELD.

REFERENCES CITEDv The following references are of record in the le ofV this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 451,264 Buckman Apr. 28, 1891 584,988 Clement June 22, 1897 937,551 Remmen Oct. 19, 1909 1,560,196 Bastian Nov. 3, 1925 1,754,190 Harris et al. Apr. 8, 1930 1,885,080 Cherry et al. Oct. 25, 1932 2,057,518 Fraser etal. Oct. 13, 1936 2,069,087 Forstrom et al. Jan. ,26, 1937 2,212,588y Csanyi Aug. 27, 1940 2,426,341 Caneld Aug. 25, 1947 2,438,374 Ramsey .Mar. 23,1948 

